Tried & Tested: Does Probiotic Skincare Really Work?
Probiotics are great for gut health, but how can they help sensitive, acne-prone skin? I roadtested Active Probiotic Skincare to find out...
I've always suffered with sensitive, reactive skin. The first sign of stress and it flares up. When it's that time of the month I'm battling painful breakouts around my chin and jawline. If I use makeup that doesn't agree, or skincare that's too active for sensitive skin, you can bet it will result in irritation. The latter is probably the most frustrating. Now that I am in my my mid-30s, I know that when it comes to anti-aging and minimising those fine lines, active skincare is where it's at!
So when I heard about Amperna an ethical, all-Australian, active skincare brand suitable for sensitive acne-prone skin, I knew I had to try it - especially given that Founder Kiri Yanchenko founded the range after her own two-year battle with pustular acne. An anti-inflammatory diet lead Kiri to discover the benefits of probiotics to promote good bacteria for her gut health (something I also swear by!) and she went on to a create Amperna, which is formulated with a unique probiotic complex that delivers good bacteria directly to your skin gently and effectively.
Over the last three months I have used The Full Range which is targeted to treat acne-prone skin. Yep, lucky me, I'm battling to keep fine lines and acne at bay at once! The Full Range includes a Ultra Gentle Soothing Cleanser (125mL), Lightweight Soothing+ Emulsion (100mL), 10% Pro+ Resurfacing Lotion (100mL), Pro+ Vitamin C Hyaluronic Serum (50mL) and Probiotic+ DS Soothing Serum (50mL).
The Routine
Morning and night I cleansed, applied the serums and moisturiser (Lightweight Soothing+ Emulsion in the morning and 0% Pro+ Resurfacing Lotion at night).
I enjoy wearing makeup so I liked the way the light gel cleanser left my skin feeling squeaky clean, but not dried out. It also was super soothing thanks to the infusion of sage and cucumber extracts.
The formulations of the moisturisers and serums were lightweight and calming on my red skin I could feel the telltale slight tingling signs of active ingredients including AHA's and glycolic, but my skin didn't react at all. I particularly loved the soothing and cool feeling of the AMPERNA® Lightweight Soothing+ Emulsion which contains a groundbreaking probiotic formula, along with ceramides, hyaluronic acid and emollients.
The Verdict
Three months on from using AMPERNA every morning and night, I can definitely see a difference my skin's texture - with and without makeup on. It's smoother, brighter and more even. I could particularly tell the difference in the areas of my skin unaffected by acne.
I did still suffer a few hormonal and stress-related breakouts around the chin area, but felt the skincare worked to soothe the redness and didn't further aggravate the acne.
I have also started back getting regular facials and light therapy to assist with stopping the acne from underneath the skin, and the therapist also commented that my skin was in good condition. It's just now about targeting the acne. It's a process, but I feel that using AMPERNA daily for the last three months has assisted me in my journey to acne-free skin!
